Chattogram prison authorities propose separate facilities for drug cases

Chattogram prison authorities have proposed separate facilities for drug-addicted inmates, saying prisoners facing other charges can become involved with drugs when housed alongside those accused in drug-related cases.

The proposal has been submitted to the Department of Prisons as part of efforts to rehabilitate drug-addicted inmates and reduce the chances of reoffending.

According to the proposal, 30 to 35 percent of inmates across the country’s prisons are accused in drug-related cases. In the 12 prisons under the Chattogram Division, about 33 percent of inmates are drug addicts.

Chattogram Division Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) Sagir Mia told bdnews24.com that inmates facing charges for different crimes are currently kept together in prisons.

“This leads many inmates to become involved with drugs. If drug-addicted inmates arrested under drug laws could be kept separate from those facing other charges, their rehabilitation would be easier. That is why we have proposed constructing separate facilities for them.”

The divisional prison authorities have also proposed keeping Rohingya inmates separate from Bangladeshi prisoners.

The proposal says Cox’s Bazar District Jail has a capacity of 400 inmates but houses around 2,500 to 3,000 people on average each day, at least 1,200 of whom are Rohingyas.

Sagir Mia said the offences for which Bangladeshi and Rohingya inmates are imprisoned are different.

According to him, Rohingya inmates are often imprisoned over allegations involving drug trafficking, smuggling, and other crimes.

He says keeping the two groups together could create a risk of Bangladeshi inmates becoming involved in similar criminal activities.